The University of Western Australia

Asst/Prof Jonas Rubenson

Assistant Professor
Musculoskeletal Tissue Mechanics and Muscle Energetics

Contact details

Address

Musculoskeletal Tissue Mechanics and Muscle Energetics
The University of Western Australia (M408)
35 Stirling Highway
CRAWLEY WA 6009
Australia

Phone

6488 5533

Fax

6488 1039

Email

jonas.rubenson@uwa.edu.au

Personal homepage

http://mfll-uwa.jonasrubenson.com

Qualifications

BSc PhD W.Aust.

Biography

Dr. Jonas Rubenson is an Assistant Professor in the Biomechanics Group within the School of Sport Science, Exercise & Health at UWA. His expertise lies in study of musculoskeletal mechanics, in particular in vivo muscle function during movement and the relationship between muscle function and locomotor energetics. Dr. Rubenson received his PhD from the University of Western Australia, where he studied the role of mechanical energetics as a determinant of the energy cost of bipedal running. Subsequent post-doctoral positions at Northeastern University (Boston, MA) and Stanford University (Stanford, CA) saw Dr. Rubenson gain expertise in both mechanical and energetic measurements of skeletal muscle in animal models (e.g. sonomicrometery and blood flow measurements) as well as experimental measurement and musculoskeletal modeling of muscle function in humans.
Dr. Rubenson now runs the Muscle Function + Locomotion Lab, who’s aim is to identify the fundamental principles underlying muscle function during locomotion. The lab adopts experimental and modeling approaches in both humans and animal systems, and applies this knowledge to improving human health and performance. Current projects involve measuring human muscle strain, force and force-length operating ranges during movement in both healthy and clinical populations (e.g. Heart Failure). Future work aims at applying this information in technologies for enhancing human gait, such as improving locomotor economy and reducing muscle injuries.
Dr. Rubenson’s work has been published in leading biology, biomechanics and physiology journals such as Proc. R. Soc. Lond, B., J. R. Soc., Interface, J. Exp. Biol. and J. Appl. Physiol. Dr. Rubenson is a member of the International Society of Biomechanics, the Society of Experimental Biology and the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology.

Key research

skeletal muscle function during locomotion

muscle mechanics

muscle and locomotion energetics

Publications

Submitted papers at review:

1.Rubenson, J., Pires, N.J., Shannon, D., Pinniger, G.J, and Loi, H.O. Subject-specific force-length relationships reveal the in vivo length operating range of the human soleus muscle during walking and running. Submitted, J. Physiol.

2.Haughton, L., Dawson, B., Rubenson, J. Achilles tendon mechanics after prolonged running and intermittent shuttles. Submitted, J. Appl. Biomech.



Published or in press:

3. Rubenson, J., Heliams, B.D., Besier, T.F.,Lloyd, D.A., and Fournier, P.A. (2011) Adaptations for economical running: the effect of bipedal limb structure on 3-D joint mechanics. Journal of the Royal Society, Interface. 8: 740-755.

4.Umberger, B.R. and Rubenson, J. (2011). Understanding muscle energetics in locomotion: New modeling and experimental approaches Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews. 39: 59-67.

5.Park, D, Rubenson, J., Carr, A, Mattson, J, Besier, T.F., and Chou, L. (2011) The Influence of Acute Static Stretching and Warm-up on Achilles Tendon Material Properties. Foot and Ankle Int. 32: 407-413.

6.Carr, J.A., Ellerby, D.J., Rubenson, J., and Marsh, R.L. (2011) Mechanisms producing coordinated function across the breadth of a large biarticular thigh muscle. J. Exp. Biol. In Press.

7.Watson, R.R., Rubenson, J., Coder, L., Hoyt, D.F., Propert, M.W.G., and Marsh, R.L. (2011) Gait specific energetics contribute to economical walking and running in emus and ostriches. Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B. 278: 2040-2046.

8.Haughton, L., Dawson, B., Rubenson, J., Tobin, M. (2011). Movement patterns and physiological strain during a novel, simulated cricket batting innings (BATEX), J. Sport. Sci. 29: 801-809.

9.Haughton, L., Dawson, B., Rubenson, J. (2011). Performance in a simulated cricket batting innings (BATEX): Reliability and discrimination between playing standards. J. Sport. Sci. 29: 1097-103.

10.Rubenson, J. and Marsh, R.L. (2009). Mechanical efficiency of limb swing during walking and running in guinea fowl (Numida meleagris). J. Appl. Physiol. 106: 1618 – 1630.

11.Rubenson, J., Heliams, B.D., Lloyd, D.A., Maloney, S.K., Withers, P.C. and Fournier, P.A. (2007) Reappraisal of the comparative cost of human locomotion using gait-specific allometric analyses. J. Exp. Biol. 210: 3513-3524.

12.Rubenson, J., Besier, T.F., Heliams, B.D., Lloyd, D.A., and Fournier, P.A. (2007) Running in ostriches (Struthio camelus): three-dimensional joint axes alignment and joint kinematics. J. Exp. Biol. 210: 2548-2562.

13.Marsh, R.L., Ellerby, D.J., Henry, H.T. and Rubenson, J. (2006). The energetic cost of trunk and distal limb loading during walking and running in guinea fowl Numida meleagris. I. Organismal metabolism and biomechanics. J. Exp. Biol. 209: 2050-2063.

14.Rubenson, J., Henry, H.T., Dimoulas, P.M. and Marsh, R.L. (2006). The cost of running uphill: linking organismal and muscle energy use in guinea fowl Numida meleagris. J. Exp. Biol. 209: 2395-2408.

15. Rubenson, J., Heliams, B.D., Lloyd, D.A., and Fournier, P.A. (2004). Gait selection in the ostrich: mechanical and metabolic characteristics of walking and running with and without an aerial phase. Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B. 271: 1091– 1099.

Funding received

Winthrop Professor David Lloyd, Professor David Smith, Professor Jiake Xu, Associate Professor Bruce Gardiner, Professor Thomas Kirk,
Assistant Professor Jonas Rubenson, Winthrop Professor Ming Zheng 2010, 'Bioengineered Bioscaffolds for Achilles Tendinopathy
Treatment', ARC Linkage Projects. Funds Approved: $840,000.00 (ARC) plus Industry Contribution (Total 1.5 M).

Assistant Professor Jonas Rubenson, Winthrop Professor David Lloyd, 2010, ' Creating human subject-specific neuromuscular skeletal
models', UWA Research Collaboration Awards. Funds Approved: $16,000.00. Collaboration partners: Prof. P. Hunter, Dr. T. Besier (U. Auckland), Prof. S. Delp (Stanford University), Dr. G. Lichtwark, (UQ).

Assistant Professor Jonas Rubenson, Winthrop Professor Daniel Green, Winthrop Professor David Lloyd 2009, 'Optimising Exercise & Functional Capacity in Heart Failure - A Focus on Enhancing Skeletal Muscle Mechanics', National Heart Foundation. Funds Approved: $129,000.00.

Winthrop Professor David Lloyd, Assistant Professor Jonas Rubenson 2009, ' Development & Validation of a Data Rich Neuromuscular Skeletal Computational Modelling Framework to Study Muscular Skeletal Disorders In Humans & Animals', UWA Research Collaboration Awards. Funds Approved: $8,000.00. Collaboration partners: Prof. S. Delp (Stanford University), Prof. W. Herzog (University of Calgary).

Assistant Professor Jonas Rubenson, 2008, 'Understanding the Link Between Muscle Mechanics and Energetics in vivo: Integrating Empirical Data and Musculoskeletal Modelling', UWA Research Development Award Scheme. Funds Approved: $22,655.00.

Memberships

International Society of Biomechanics
Society of Experimental Biology
Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology.

Honours and awards

Early-Career Researcher “Best Publication of the Year” award (Engineering and Mathematics Category), The University of Western Australia. 2011

Heart Foundation Research Award, National Heart Foundation (Australia) 2010

Society for Experimental Biology, Post-doctoral travelling fellowship

UWA PhD Distinction Honors

UWA Valedictorian Address, 2005, Faculty of Life and Physical Sciences, Natural and Agricultural Sciences and Landscape and Visual Arts.

Previous positions

Post-doctoral Research Associate, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA

Post-doctoral Research Associate, Department of Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA

Teaching

Dr. Rubenson coordinates two units in the School of Sport Science, Exercise & Health:

Level 3
3356- Neuromuscular Biomechanics and Motor Control

Level 4- Postgraduate
7634- Advanced Neuromuscular Biomechanics and Motor Control

Current projects

Dr. Rubenson is currently involved with several research projects, with collaboration from Australia, Canada, and USA. Research projects include:

Experimental measurement of muscle mechanics during movement in humans. Focus on both healthy populations and clinical populations (Heart Failure).

Linking muscle and joint function with locomotor energetics in humans.

Musculoskeletal model of humans and animals (avian and rabbit models).

Integrating experimental muscle mechanics and energetics data with musculoskeletal modeling to estimate muscle efficiency in vivo.

In vivo function of native and tissue engineered tendon (rabbit model).

Research profile

Research profile and publications